Donna D’Errico is no stranger to attention — or to criticism. The Baywatch alum, now 54, has carved out a bold new chapter for herself on social media and on OnlyFans, where she posts playful, sexy content that often sparks debate. But when a holiday selfie in a fitted Santa suit drew accusations of being “thirsty,” D’Errico proved she had no intention of backing down.
The Post That Sparked It
Earlier in December, the former pinup shared a festive Instagram snap of herself in a Santa outfit, quoting a scene from the 1989 holiday classic National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The tongue-in-cheek caption invited fans to drop their favorite lines from the movie in the comments. Many happily played along, trading punchlines and holiday cheer.
But one follower left a different kind of remark: “Thirsty much?”
D’Errico’s Viral Clapback
Rather than ignore the jab, D’Errico responded with a fiery takedown.
“This is a photo of me completely covered from head to toe in a Santa costume,” she wrote. “The only thing not covered is roughly 3 inches of my legs above my boots … And you want to come on here and call me thirsty.”
She challenged the troll’s logic, asking whether it was the fact that her outfit was fitted or that she chose a flattering angle. Then she doubled down with signature wit: “If I want to take a photo of myself standing here nude and post it with strategically placed frosty the f—ing snowman emojis … hold on to your hate hat, because I can and I sure as s–t will.”
The clapback quickly went viral, with fans praising her confidence and unapologetic tone.
Not Her First Time Confronting Critics
This isn’t the first time D’Errico has turned online trolling into a moment of empowerment. Just weeks earlier, when another commenter accused her of spending “too much time thinking about what [she] looks like,” she delivered an equally sharp rebuttal.
“Instagram isn’t real life,” she reminded him. “You don’t even know me … Right now, I spend the majority of my time researching how I can get my dad approved to receive a valve in his lung so he can live the rest of his days without being out of breath all the time. The money I’m making on OF is going to pay to get him the best treatment in the country.”
That candid revelation reframed her online presence, showing that the glamor is only one part of her reality — and that the income from OnlyFans is helping her family.
Owning Her Image
D’Errico has been vocal about the double standards older women face online, especially when it comes to body image. She has dismissed ageist comments suggesting she is “too old” to wear bikinis or lingerie, insisting that confidence has no expiration date.
Her move to OnlyFans in 2022 was, in her words, about reclaiming control. “I just wanted to get away from the trolls, the hate, the control. I wanted to post whatever I want without being judged,” she told Fox News Digital. “I’ve always said I can do whatever I want and that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m having fun now.”
She also pushed back on the stigma surrounding the platform, noting that it’s not exclusively explicit content: “There are athletes, fitness people, cooks — you name it, they’re on the platform, too. Just because you’re on the site doesn’t automatically mean you’re doing porn.”
From Baywatch to Bold Independence
Once best known as one of the lifeguards on Baywatch, D’Errico has reinvented herself more than once. Now, she’s relishing her freedom to live on her own terms, whether that means posting in red silk lingerie, rocking a bikini at 54, or quoting Chevy Chase in a Santa suit.
The takeaway? Donna D’Errico isn’t asking for anyone’s approval. If anything, she’s enjoying the chance to prove that women — at any age — can be sexy, funny, powerful, and unapologetically themselves.
Or, as she put it best: “Now fly away, little Starling.”
